2 days in a row so I must be getting fitter.I was there early and no signs of players but I knew they would be out as Brandon and Ally (kit men and ball boys extraordinaire ) were out practicing their ball skills.What can I say but a lot more practice needed. And today I saw the first pap looking for something juicy but he didn't hang around long enough for them to come out.

The first player I saw was Olivier Ntcham running on his own and later he was being worked hard by 2 physios. Also later was Albert Rusnak doing some running so he must have had an injury I didn't know about. The first team finally came out with the injured players again for the Pellegrini briefing which was more normal in length today.Then onto some circuits of the pitch for a group of just 16 and 3 keepers off to do their warm ups.None of the "kids " from yesterday but Guidetti and Boyata still in the group.

Lots of stretches as you would expect before keep ball circles and then into a passing game.From what I could see and hear from a distance the target was to complete 10 passes against a strong pressing opposition and the losers doing 10 press ups.After this they acme to the goal nearest me to do some work on free kicks from all the sorts of angles and both sides of the pitch.Inswingers and outswingers in what was quite a tricky and strong wind.

To add to the defence a couple of the coaches were thrown in and one covering the near post decided the ball was travelling a bit fast so ducked out of it. Joe's reaction and words,and the team's generally, were really funny but for me not repeatable.He recovered somewhat on two others which he headed away but I think his head was hurting afterwards.Best free kick taker had to be David Silva.Then onto direct free kicks and not many successful ones either with one from Samir being a superb exception.

No game at the end of the session today but a few penalties to finish with from Yaya ,Aleks and Demechelis.Mostly very good but Joe took great delight when finally stopping one from Yaya.A nice session today for me to enjoy but nothing too fierce so now it's off to London hopefully for 3 points.

Have a great Christmas everybody and lets hope its 9 points from the 3 festive games.

phips wrote:sounds like he are, generally, shit at free kicks (aside from Aleks and Yaya) and corners

The average delivery today wasn't good hence why they need to practice it but the wind seriously didn't help.Anything lifted caught the wind and of course the lower ones don't beat the first man.

I don't see how we can complain about free kicks & corners anyway, having scored from both in the past week.

Tis strange isn't it that we seem to take a lot of garbage free kicks but do seem to have made a few count in recent times.As long as we beat the front man there is always a chance as the effort/determination and movement is pretty good now.Kompany and Demechelis help with that.

Can somebody tell me wtf is going on with Jovetic ?!Last what i read was that he eat something bad before a cup game, so what is now with the guy?Half season pass he did not play a game and such a talent. This injury come all in a bad time a most games in short period and we miss 6-7 key players.

You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline. It helps if you have some kind of a football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer.

phips wrote:sounds like he are, generally, shit at free kicks (aside from Aleks and Yaya) and corners

The average delivery today wasn't good hence why they need to practice it but the wind seriously didn't help.Anything lifted caught the wind and of course the lower ones don't beat the first man.

I don't see how we can complain about free kicks & corners anyway, having scored from both in the past week.

Tis strange isn't it that we seem to take a lot of garbage free kicks but do seem to have made a few count in recent times.As long as we beat the front man there is always a chance as the effort/determination and movement is pretty good now.Kompany and Demechelis help with that.

We have a plan these days. We have almost scored on several other occasions recently. Also, to add to the free kicks scored by Yaya & Kolarov, when Silva took o e v Bayern, he hit the bar & Negredo buried his. Huge improvement on the rubbish served up last season.

Cheers for your efforts Doug & all the best for Christmas.

The pissartist formerly known as Ted

VIVA EL CITY !!!

Some take the bible for what it's worth.. when they say that the rags shall inherit the Earth...Well I heard that the Sheikh... bought Carlos Tevez this week...& you fuckers aint gettin' nothin..

Cit.revenge wrote:Can somebody tell me wtf is going on with Jovetic ?!Last what i read was that he eat something bad before a cup game, so what is now with the guy?Half season pass he did not play a game and such a talent. This injury come all in a bad time a most games in short period and we miss 6-7 key players.

Not really any significance there Dazzler.Just that Joe's a bit louder and more outgoing so when he does something special or something unusual happens he tends to react more so is more noticeable. I should have mentioned a top penalty save from Aleks.

I see I made Inside City right near the end with my close up view of the keepers training.